Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to
Samoa
embassy: Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Building, 5th Floor,
Beach Road, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia, 0815
telephone: [685] 21436/21452/21631/22696
FAX: [685] 22030
Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing
five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross
constellation
Economy Samoa
Economy - overview:
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on
development aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and
fishing. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms.
Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90%
of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The
manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. The
decline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem. Tourism
is an expanding sector, accounting for 25% of GDP; about 88,000
tourists visited the islands in 2001. One factory in the Foreign
Trade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile electrical
harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. The Samoan Government
has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement
of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same
time protecting the environment. Observers point to the flexibility
of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic
advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the
external debt is stable, and inflation is low.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$399 million
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.4% industry: 58.4% services: 30.2% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 90,000 (2000 est.)